Kirkwood - Community Reviews & Ratings

I really loved this place. We did over a week in Southern Tahoe so hit here (twice), Heavenly, Sierra & even made the run to Palisades Tahoe (the old Squaw Valley) 1 day & I think Kirkwood was my favourite. The terrain was good with lots of diversity & we had great snow which never hurts. I highly recommend it as well as the other 3 places I mentioned above. The drive along the lake to Palisades alone makes it all worth it. The drive up to Kirkwood was pretty impressive in its own right.

Kirkwood is my favorite and most often skied resort near Tahoe, but it has some limitations. Only two high-speed lifts: Timber Creek serving low intermediate and Cornice serving advanced. Best lifts are slow and often closes during storms: The Wall, advanced and expert, and Sunrise aka Backside, intermediate to advanced and expert on some returns to frontside. Kirkwood runs more lifts during storms than Heavenly or Palisades so if you can get there during storm, you should get powder. Access from W on CA-88 often closes due to avalanche control when there is 12" of more new snow and sometime can close for a few days. Kirkwood is about 45 minutes from South Lake Tahoe with no traffic, but can be double that if it's storming and you get stuck behind line of vehicles going 25 mph or less with chains on. $3 beers at 7800. Free parking (reservations required) on weekends requires you to be early or you will have a long walk to lifts. Many great advanced to expert runs.

Love that Kirkwood is its own little village. Restaurant, slopes and shops are all within a short walking distance from accommodations. Scenery is gorgeous, employees are super friendly and overall one of the best atmospheres

Short but steep runs, chutes, and natural drops. Not recommended for beginners and challenging for intermediate skiers and boarders.

I go to kirkwood most of the time after exploring all lake tahoe and some resort in oregon and kirkwood kick ass its super great especially if your an expert rider .

Perfect mountain for snowboarders, more remote than nearby mountains. Usually good snow conditions and not many flat spots

Big beautiful mountain, great snow, and friendly and efficient staff. Wait times were extremely friendly. Overall crows size was quite favorable as well.

I have seen instructors at the kids ski school yelling at the kids. I seriously couldnt believe it! A lot of the staff is on drugs

We spent a week in South Tahoe & hit Kirkwood twice. Personally I loved it there, but admittedly some of my group didn't like it as much. If I remember correctly some of them thought there wasn't enough extreme terrain or more specifically they sleeps as they really like their steeds. IMO it had plenty of diversity.

I learned to ski on the slopes at Kirkwood and still find fun runs to improve my skills. Super fun resort!

Hi there mountain people! Heavenly Resort is an amazing resort with decent mountain height and friendly amazing workers there to brighten your day. Both the California and Nevada sides of the resort are fun to shred, but I prefer California side since the runs are a little wider and there is an amazing view of the vast Lake Tahoe in the background that is to die for! Snow condition is usually great and not icy with a lot of powder stashes between the trees for adventurous riders. The food and drink bar is great, but obviously a little pricy compared to food and drink outside the resort. And the park setups are really fun. The runs arent too long or short and they have plenty of different features that are friendly for both beginner and veteran park enthusiasts. Lastly, the surrounding area around Heavenly is downright fun and exhilarating! There are plenty of restaurants, casinos, and shops to keep you and your friends entertained for the whole time you visit. I highly recommend visiting Heavenly resort if you are planning to visit Lake Tahoe, you wont regret it! Happy shredding and Happy Holidays!

Super nice employees got my boots here the boot fitter seemed super knowledgeable was no rush in picking anything out or getting them fit steep runs with alot of challenging terrain here definitely the most challenging resort as a whole I've been to

I absolutely love the Kirkwood mountain experience as an intermediate-advanced snowboarder. As someone who visits once a weekend for day trips on average, the experience is amazing. The drive up can be a bit rough, but the all-mountain ski/snowboard experience is top notch. It has some of the toughest terrain in the Western Hemisphere, with many cliff drops and chutes (like Heart Chute and Once is Enough). The progression experience is decent as well, with some beginner terrain off Timber Creek Express, Chair 9, and Chair 1, with top-tier intermediate and advanced terrain. There are some drawbacks with the terrain parks (there are only two), and there isn't too much to do after snowboarding. Overall, I would give the resort a 4/5 stars just because of its amazing ski experience.

Kirkwood is an awesome mountain with an excellent amount of options for everyone to take part in! Towards the lodges, beginners can find multiple places to start and push themselves to grow. The main canyon is home to many runs that are usually groomed of necessary for intermediate skiers looking for quick ones and towards the top they will be able to find more advanced terrain for any thrill theyll need to seek! One of these is called the wall which is made to test anyone looking to be a little crazy. The backside of the ridge has a lot of open and ready to explore terrain that people find themselves sending down and really caters to intermediate and above. If you are looking to just sit and relax at the bottom for a break, the lodge is just below all of the hills and is a perfect place to see people going for it. Kirkwood is a fairly large mountain while also being pretty mellow with how many people are there. It is a little more difficult to get to, but definitely worth it for the adventure factor! Go try it out!

Lots of technical runs. But the over all speed of thing was fast and fun do recommend going earlier in the session it gets soft and squishy fast later day in season. Food was also fast and good

Kirkwood is a masters paradise. With some of the most challenging and difficult terrain in North America, its perfect for someone who travels for the skiing and not the nightlife. This is because nightlife in Kirkwood is almost nonexistent, no bars and little accommodation means youd be hard pressed to find anything of value after the chairs stop spinning. However, this means the resort is almost never crowded and is a locals dream. Me myself being a local its my favorite resort in the Tahoe area and is my top choice for riders and skiers who want a real challenge.

Kirkwood has some of the best terrain on the west coast. Good groomers, good off piste and excellent trees n powder.

Love riding at kirkwood Ive been an epic pass rider for years and this is definitely one of my top5 resorts in California

Best Powder Skiing on the Epic Pass in the Lake Tahoe Region. Options for extremely difficult Terrain and cliff drop ins. Known for its Couliers and Lava Rock formations that give kirkwood its uniqueness. Not many Food & Drink Options. Located deep in the forest with no general stores or grocery stores your gonna want to bring your own snacks with you incase you get trapped on the highway during a snowstorm.

Kirkwood Ski Resort, nestled in the South Lake Tahoe area, offers some of the most spectacular terrain in the Sierra Nevada. Known for its challenging runs and deep powder, its a haven for advanced skiers and snowboarders seeking adrenaline-fueled adventures. The resort boasts over 2,300 acres of diverse terrain, from steep chutes to expansive bowls, ensuring every run feels like an accomplishment. Its high elevation guarantees reliable snow conditions throughout the season. For those looking for a more relaxed experience, groomed trails and scenic views abound. Kirkwoods rustic charm and world-class terrain make it a must-visit for winter sports enthusiasts.